ABLE seeks commercialisation of Bt brinjal in the country

The Association of Biotechnology-led enterprises (ABLE) has demanded the early introduction of Bt Brinjal in the country for the benefit of farmers with withdrawal of moratorium on the commercialisation of the crop.

"The introduction of Bt Brinjal should not be delayed in the country and commercialisation of the crop should be allowed for the benefit of farmers," Kameshwar Rao, executive secretary of Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education, and a member of ABLE said here at the weekend.

The Centre has put a moratorium on the commercialisation of genetically modified brinjal crop due to opposition from certain section of civil society on the safety of the crop in last February.

Union environment minister, Jairam Ramesh had announced that commercialisation of the crop would not allowed in the country till such time independent scientific studies establish, to the satisfaction of both the public and professionals, the safety of the product from long-term view on impact on human health.

After imposition of the moratorium, the matter has been referred to six academic bodies for further studies.

"Though the academic bodies have given positive feedback to the government regarding the introduction of Bt Brinjal, centre is yet to act on it," T M Manjunath, consultant, agri-biotechnology and IPM and a member of ABLE said.

He also said that the introduction of Bt crops should not be stalled without any scientific facts implying adverse impact on the human health.

ABLE also cited the success story of Bt Cotton for replication in food crops like brinjal among others.

"When Bt Cotton was introduced in the country, there was a lot of opposition to it on the grounds of safety to the lives of livestock. However, today Bt cotton is successfully cultivated in most of the cotton-growing regions of the country without any adverse impact on livestock," he said.

Bt cotton is grown in most of the cotton-growing regions of the country with higher yield and production level, he added.

The industry body, also, said that the country has to embrace the Bt crops in order to feed its burgeoning population.

"Public policy is not driven by sentiments, rather should be determined by rationality of our future needs. Genetically modified crops are the solution to increase both production and productivity of most of the crops in the country," Manjunath added.

He also said that introduction of Bt brinjal would not only save 75-80 per cent of pesticide requirement of the farmer, but also would improve productivity level in the crop.